As the Left Front plays down its differences, Amulya Gopalakrishnan explains the internal workings of the CPM.

•What is the organisational structure of the CPI(M)?

The Party Congress held every three years is the highest decision-making body, which comprises elected delegates on the strength of the membership of the party.

•How is the central committee constituted, elected?

The Party Congress elects a Central Committee, which is the highest decision-making body between the two Congresses. The Central Committee elects a Politburo which is the executive body that implements the decisions taken by the Central Committee.

•How is the Politburo constituted?

The Politburo, along with the General Secretary is elected by the Central Committee, once every three years.

•Have there been notable conflicts between the two, how have they been resolved?

Irresolvable differences of opinion within the Politburo, where those who are in a minority refuse to accept the view of the majority of Politburo members, are taken to the Central Committee. Irreconciliable differences within the Central Committee, are taken to the Party Congress which takes a view (a special plenum can be called, like in 1964 when the CPM was formed after a split from CPI).

There have been two notable conflicts which divided the Central Committee - the first being 1979’s so-called ‘July crisis’ when the party withdrew support from the Morarji Desai government. The differences were settled in the subsequent Party Congress, in Vijayawada. The second time was the 1998 debate on participation in the government (famously termed a “historic blunder” by veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu), settled by the Party Congress in Calcutta.

... contd.